Pennsylvania could soon make more conditions eligible for medical marijuana treatment.

The state Medical Marijuana Advisory Board in November approved a new process for amending and expanding the state’s list of 21 serious conditions for which patients may use cannabis as treatment, Department of Health spokesman Nate Wardle said.

In the coming weeks, the board will begin accepting research-based petitions to add specific conditions to the list of qualifying ailments, with tentative plans to discuss and vote on the first round of submissions during its next meeting Feb. 1.

Cannabis for anxiety, depression?

Patient advocates say they’re hopeful the change will extend eligibility to patients who have medical issues that could benefit from cannabis but remain excluded from obtaining it legally – such as those grappling with depression, anxiety and insomnia.

“Pennsylvanians have been using marijuana illicitly for years to treat a wide variety of conditions not on the state list,” said Dr. Roxanne Rick of Cannabis Care Certification Centers, which aims to offer people an alternative to opioids for the treatment of pain and addiction. [Read more at The Morning Call]